Chain



March 13, 1945. us-r AL 2,371,141

CHAIN FILING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L03 m+ m 1 m INYENTORS ATTORNEY March 13, 1945. F. ARMBRUST ET AL CHAIR FILING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MW] .%RNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 13, 19450 F. ARMBRUST ET AL CHAIN FILING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1941 INVENTORS WL/ TTORN a flattened effect.

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIN FILING MACHINE V,

Ferdinand Armbrust' and August G.- Reibling,

Cranston, R. 1., assignors toArmbrust Chain Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 17, 1941, Serial No. 419,366

3 Claims.

fiOur present invention relates to chain machines and has particular reference to a machine for filing chains. p it The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine for filing chains; par ticularly ornamental chains. to produce a chain with the links filed fiat. V I A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which will readily file an endless length of chain on both sides in a continuous process.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a filing machine which is simple in con struction and easily and economic-ally assembled. .Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filing machine which will last for a considerable period of time, and in which the abrasive portions of the machine will wear-well. With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, our invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fullyfdis closed in the detailed description followingfand more particularly defined in the claims appended thereto.

' In the drawings:' Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying our invention, parts being omitted; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; v

Fig.3 is a view of acurb chain prior to filing; ,Fig. 4 is a similar view after the chain has been filed;

been found necessary to file the chain by hand. The present invention is designed to provide an inexpensive readily assembled machine, which will file and polish an endless length of chain in one continuous operation and which will wear well.

Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention, and with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the machine is preferably mounted on a base or table 20 of generally rectangular shape. The chain 2| is provided in an end less length and is fed into the apparatus from a source of supply not shown, preferably below the level of the base 20. The chain is fed into the machine from the upper lefthand corner, looking at Fig. 1 and passes over a guide rod 22,

which is mounted on av bar 23, bolted to the' edge of the table 20. The chain passe into a tensioning device 24, which i mounted on one side of the bar 23 and is adapted to frictionally releasably permit the chain to be pulled into the machine under tension. The chain passes across the table 20 and around an idling pulley 25, and

over a guide pulley 26 which is mounted for both vertical and radial adjustment. The chain then passes under a filing wheel 21, which is adapted to rotate in a direction opposite the path of movement of the chain and thus file the top of the chain as it passes beneath the wheel. The chain then passes over a second guide pulley 28, mounted similarly to the pulley 26, and across to a Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base ofthe Fig. 12 is a plan view of the helical guide; and

a perspective view of the polishing Fig. 13 is wheel.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a filing wheel.

'In the manufacture of ornamental and other types of chains, it has been found advisable to add to the ornamentation of the chain by filing the linksdown on one or more sides to acheve This filing i more particularly applied to curb chains. Heretofore, it has friction roller 29, having a grooved surface 30 which'is adapted to frictionally engag the chain as it is wound thereon. The roller 29 pulls the chain 2| through the machine counter to the movement of the filing wheel 21, the tensioning device 24 resisting the movement of the chain and providing for a suitable tension throughout the various stages of the machine.

Ahelical guide 3! is loosely mounted on the friction roller 29 to provide a spiral chain track, and causes the chain to follow a helical path on the roller 29 and come off the end of the roller after making enough turns to provide a friction rip.

A sumcient amount of the chain is now permitted to extend downwardly into a container or receptacle on the floor, and the chain is then fed across a second guide bar 32positioned at the lower left-hand corner of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

bar 32 is fixed to a bar 33, bolted to the side of the table 20, similarly to the bar 23. i The chain now passes through a second tensioning device 34, similar to the tensioning device 24, across the table and around rollers and 36, similar to the rollers 25 and 26. This brings the unfiled side of the chain upwardly, and the chain now passes beneath the filing wheel 31, which is identical with the wheel 21, and also rotates in the direction opposite the path of movement of the chain. The chain passes overa roller 38, similar to the roller- 28, and is: wound on the friction roller 38 in amannersimilar to the roller 29. The friction roller 39 is also provided with a loosely prevent the filing wheels 21' and 31=from wearing mounted helical guide 46 similar to the guide 3t along a fixed groove, a reciprocating, motion is imparted to the chain as is passes beneath the filing wheels. Construction The detailed construction of the machine may power 4| is mounted to the right of ,the machine, as viewed in Fig; 2, and supported above the op-- erative portions of the machine on legs or columns 42 on the table 26. The motor 4| drives asprocket wheel 42 and chain 43, which drive a sprocket wheel 44 mounted on a shaft 45 on the table 26. The sprocket wheel is of larger diameter than the wheel 42 to provide a reduction of the speed from the operating motor. The shaft 45' is rotatably mounted in journalbearings 46' and 41- on the table 26. Fixed to the shaft 45 is another sprocket wheel 48 of smaller diameter than the sprocket wheel 44 andconnected bya chain 49 to a large. sprocket wheel 50 mounted in the same plane. as the sprocket wheel 48- but- -above. the table 20, as shown in Fig. 2. i The sprocket'wheel 56 is mounted on a shaft-5| journalled'. at each end in bearings 52, which are in turn. mounted on standards 53 on the table 20. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft St is a small sprocket wheel 54: which drives through a chain" 55 to a larger sprocket wheel 56, which is mounted on a stud 51 on the standard 53; Mounted on the" same stud5T and rotatably secured to the sprocket wheel 56 is a small sprocket wheel 58 which drives; through a chain 59 to a larger sprocket wheel 66; the. sprocket wheel 60' being mounted at the end" of' a shaft 6| which is journalled in bearings 62 provided on the edge of the standards 53.-

The drive from: the motor to the shaft 45 the're-- fore: produces a slight'redu'ction in speed, whereas the various chain and sprocket arrangements hereinabove described provide a much slower-- drive of theshaft 6|.

The filing wheels 21 and 3'! are mounted ateach end of the shaft 45 and preferably com-'- prisehardened steel disks or wheels eachhaving a conventional, cross-grooved filing surface cut on: its periphery; The. direction of rotation of the. shaft 45, the sprockets 44 and 48, and'the filing wheels 21' and 31' are counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2;

Referring: to Figs. 7 tov 10 inclusive, the bear ings 46 and 41 are mounted on a journal mounting 63 which is provided on each side with'spaced, laterally extending brackets; A guide roll car riage; 6.5, preferahlvmadein two sections and se-' cured together, is mounted for reciprocating movement on the brackets 64'with its parallel side. edgesBG passing over thebrackets andbeing slidably'secured thereto. by overlapping plates61, which are bolted to the brackets 64. The idling pulleys 25'and 35are rotatably mounted-on spac'ed -extended-portions: 68, as shown in Figsi I and I0.'-

now be described as follows: A source of motive gearing H from the shaft 6|.

The bars 66 are connected by an end bar 69, and the pulleys 26 and 28, and 36 and 38, are respectively adjustably mounted, one at each end of the bar 69, by means of slotted arms 10. The carriage is reciprocated through an adjustablelink II, which is pivoted to the yoke 12 fastened to one of the bars 69, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The other end of the link 'II is pivoted to an eccentric13', which. is.- mounted at the end of a shaft 14' at" the lower edge of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shaft 14 is driven through gearing l5 and shaft 16, through the bevelled Rotation of the eccentric 13 causes the link ll to reciprocate the carriage 65, which carries the chain beneath the filing-rollers 21 and 31, and provides for movement of the chain across the entire face of both filing wheels.

The friction rollers 29 and 39 are both mounted on the: shaft 6| so that they will rotate simultaneously and at thev same speed. Loosely mounted. onv each are the. helical guides. 3t and 40, see Fig. 12, which comprise rectangular wiring bent into a helix of slightly larger diameter than the friction rollers to provide spiral chain tracks, the guides having one. of their ends 18 extending. downwardly to abut the edge. of the. table. 26,. as shown in Fig. 2, thus preventing rotation. of the guides while the friction rollers arerotating.

The tensioning devices 24 and' 34. are shown in: detail in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. They eachcomprisea base portion 19 preferably of fiber having an upper longitudinal channel 86 through which the. chain passes. A T-shaped cover 8| of. the sa'me' material is placedover the base 18 with thecentral depending arm 82', which is slightly longer: thanthe depth of the channel 80, extending intw the. channel. The cover 8| is held on the base 19;- by threaded rods 83 which extend through. the cover into the base, and which are provided with coil springs 84 between the top of the cover and: nuts 84a on the rods, so that the cover may be: resiliently adjustably held on the base. As: the:

chain passes through the channel 86, it is resiliently and frictionally retarded by the depending portion 82 of the cover, which is spring pressed downwardly by thesprings84.

After the chain has been filed on bothsides by the hereinabove-described machine, it is necessary to polish the filed. surface to eliminate any roughness. For this purpose, we use a polishing. wheel 85, see Fig. 13, which comprises a. wheel base portion 85a of soft felt having its periphery impregnated with a mixture of emery wheel cement and emery powder to provide a polishing.

' surface 86.

The wheel may be provided with guide flanges 81 to prevent the chain from slip ping from beneath the wheel.

To provide a continuous operation, a second machine, similar in construction with the'one hereinabove described, is positioned adjacent the" first machine the filing wheels 21 and 31* being replaced by the polishing wheels 85, so that, as the chain. leaves the" roller 39," it' canbe fed directly into the polishing machine and the chain c'anthus be filed and polished ina" continuous operation. However, if desired, the same machine can be used by removing the filing wheels 21 and" 31 after the filing operation and replacing them with polishing Wheels 85..

Operation motor 4 I is transmitted to the'shaft45bysprocket wheel 42, chain 43, and sprocket wheel 44. This arrangement reduces the speed of rotation of the shaft 45. The drive is then-taken off the shaft 45 by a small sprocket wheel 48 connected through a chain 49 to an intermediate large sprocket wheel 50, shaft 5|, small sprocket wheel 54, chain 55, large sprocket wheel 56, small sprocket wheel 58, chain 59, large sprocket wheel 60 to the shaft 6 I. This reduces the speed of rotation of the shaft 6| as compared to the shaft 45 on which the filin wheels are mounted, so that the filing wheels rotate at a greater rate of speed than the movement of the chain beneath them. While various chain and sprocket wheel arrangements are shown, other reduction methods, such as worm and gears may be used.

As the'chain is fed into the machine over the guide bar 22 and through the tensio-ningdevice 24, it passes slightly above the table 20, as shown in Fig. 2, and around the pulley 25, pulley 26, and under the wheel 21 and over the pulley 28. The chain is pulled through this portion of the machine by the friction roller 29 around-which it is guided by the helical guide 3!. Simultaneously with the movement of the chain beneath the filing wheel 2'! the carriage 65 is reciprocated by the link H, which is driven by the eccentric I3 through the shafts 14 and 16 by the shaft 6|. The reciprocation of. the carriage being in axial alignment with the filing wheel 21, the chainis moved back and forth beneath the filing surface of the wheel 21, so that the wheel will wear evenly and the filing action of the wheel will be aided by the movement of the chain across the surface.

The chain now passes over the guide 32, through the tensioning device 34, again across the table 20, over rollers 35 and 36, and beneath the filing wheel 31, which files the other side of the chain. Inasmuch as the various pulley 25, 26,v ZBand 35, 36 and 38 are all mounted on the carriage 65, both sides of the chain will be simultaneously reciprocated beneath the filing wheels 21 and 31.

The chain passes over the pulley 38 onto the friction roller 39 which pulls the chain beneath is provided with its own friction roller, andthe tension beneath one filing wheel is not transmitted nor does it affect the chain passing beneath the other filing wheel.

" This completes the construction and operation of the apparatus embodying our invention. It can readily be seen from the foregoing that the apparatus is simple in construction and admirably adapted for its intended purpose. The use of applicants hardened steel wheels with filing justment of the tension on the chain passing through the machine, adjustment of the speed of drive of the chain which naturally fixes the amount that is filed from the chain, and provides a reciprocating movement which ensures an even wearing of the filing surface.

While we have described a specific embodiment of our invention, it is obvious that changes may readily be made in the size and shape and relative arrangement of the parts, in applicants drive arrangement and chain pulling arrangement, and in the filing head, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a chain filing machine, a power shaft, a rotatable filing wheel, a chain tensioning device, a chain feeding wheel, and idler pulleys cooperating with said tensioning device and said feeding wheel to position a chain in filing contact with said filing wheel, said idler pulleys being rotatably mounted on a reciprocatable carriage, means operating said filing wheel from said power shaft,

means operating said feeding wheel from said power shaft at'a reduced speed relative to the filing wheel speed, and means for reciprocating said carriageto draw the chain across the face of the faster moving filing wheel.

2. In a chain filing machine, a power shaft, a rotatable filing wheel, a chain tensioning device, a chain feeding wheel having a spiral chain track, and idler pulleys cooperating with said tensioning device and said feeding wheel to position a chain in filing contact with said filing wheel, said idler pulleys being rotatably mounted on a reciprocatable carriage, means operating said filing wheel from said power shaft, means operating said feeding wheel from said power shaft at a reduced speed relative to the filing wheel speed,

40 and means for reciprocating said carriage to the filing wheel 31, so that each frictional wheel draw the chain across the face of the faster moving filing wheel.

3. In a chain filing machine, a power shaft, a rotatable filing wheel, a chain tensioning device, a chain feeding wheel having a spiral chain track, and idler pulleys cooperating with said tensioning device and said feeding wheel to position a chain in filing contact with said filing wheel, said idler pulleys being rotatably mounted on a reciprocatable carriage, means operating said filing wheel from said power shaft to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the chain, means operating said feeding wheel from said power shaft at a reduced speed relative to the filing wheel speed, and means for reciprocating said carriage to draw the chain across the face of the faster moving filing wheel.

FERDINAND ARMBRUST.

AUGUST G. REIBLING. 

